Spiritual Gifts Series ~ Mercy ~ Lesson Eight

Romans 12:6-8

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.
If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.
If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;
if it is encouraging, let him encourage;
if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously;
if it is leadership, let him govern diligently;
if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully

Charles Stanley has written a powerful book entitled, Ministering Through Spiritual Gifts published by Nelson Impact. If you have not yet deciphered your own personal motivational gift, I would exhort you to follow my posts as I summarize Dr. Stanley's study from the In Touch Series. Dr. Stanley says, "I believe two things will happen as you truly understand who you are in Christ Jesus - and what your identity is within the Body of Christ. First, I believe you are going to be excited about your identity and the ways in which God desires to use you. Second, I believe you are going to be challenged to develop your gift and employ it to the best of your ability."

The person with the spiritual gift of mercy is filled with love for their fellow man. The apostle John, with the gift of mercy, spoke more of love than any other. This gifting brings about unconditional love and joy. Although they might have a tough outer shell, this person is tenderhearted and caring. "Mercy" enters a room and lights it up.

This concludes the study of the spiritual motivational gifts. Hopefully you have found your gifting and are already praying for the Lord to prepare you to be used in His service through your gifting. All Christians have a primary motivational gift. If you have not identified yours, read back through the series and ask the Holy Spirit to move you towards living in yours. M

Motivational Gift of Mercy

Apostle John had the gift of mercy

Extremely sensitive about everything—everything is vivid.

God will teach them how to set boundaries.

General Characteristics
1. Extremely sensitive to others’s emotions; are easily broken before the Lord. Can teach us to be compassionate.
2. Attracted to those with mental and emotional problems (issues, not breakdowns). Those will gravitate to the person with mercy.
3. Great desire to receive and remove the hurt—must learn to hear God and back off when God is teaching the person something. Need to see the benefit to be learned.
4. Deep emotion will draw them more than the physical—can see through physical trappings ( mercy will see the hurt on the inside)
5. Very loyal; committed to relationships. Sometimes feel guilty to say, “no.”
6. If have friend who is rejected, mercy will see rejection and come to their defense
7. Genuine sense of low and greater vulnerability. If they don’t know how to forgive (or get over it), they will start putting up walls to keep from being hurt by those they love. Their love is very pure and genuine; must know life if really about love—we must give and receive love.
8. Deep need for relationships with others
9. Want closeness and quality time. Want true intimacy—spirit, heart—in marriage,
10. Likes being with others who have mercy
11. Avoid firmness; cannot say no, especially when in the flesh, until they mature and know it is okay to say no.

Ways people with the motivational gift of mercy are misunderstood:
1. Because it is difficult for them to be firm (can’t say, “no”), we think they can’t see the sin.
2. Appear to be guided by emotions and not walking in the Spirit.
3. They are attracted to opposite sex in that merciful person embraces so much that they are taken as sexually forward. Opposite sex is attracted to the person with mercy—should always be on guard against sexual affairs.

Walking in the Spirit

Attentive
Sensitive

Fair
Very compassionate
Gentle— key to the person with this gift.
Flexible and kind
Great humility

Walking in the Flesh

Unconcerned

Callous

Partial

Indifferent

Harsh

Rude; will not bend

Outright angry